As part of COP-29 in Baku, the National Human Rights Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan organized a parallel event in the form of a side event on the topic “Ensuring children's rights to health in the context of climate change.” It was held on the eve of the celebration of the International Children's Rights Day and the 35th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The side event was attended by representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), international organizations, government agencies, scientific and expert institutions of Azerbaijan and foreign countries.

During the discussion, the participants focused on the key challenges facing the global community in connection with climate change, its impact on the health of the younger generation and the need to strengthen international cooperation in this area.

The side event featured presentations by the First Deputy Director of the National Human Rights Center M. Tillabayev, the Coordinator for Human Rights, Climate Change and Environment of the UN OHCHR R. Vachirarattanakornkul, the Head of the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan A. Safikhanli, the Director of the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan M. Turgunov, and the representative of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic S. Abdullayeva.

The participants emphasized that climate change has a large-scale and multifaceted impact on the rights and well-being of children around the world, with a special emphasis on the vulnerability of children to environmental crises associated with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, deteriorating air and water quality, and increased environmental risks.

According to experts, about one billion children - half of the world's child population - live in countries exposed to extremely high climate risks. Air pollution, extreme weather events, the spread of infectious diseases and environmental degradation pose the main threats to their future. Children, despite their minimal contribution to global warming, face its most serious consequences. Today, almost every child is exposed to at least one environmental or climate threat.

Particular attention was paid to Uzbekistan's efforts to actively participate in international initiatives and strengthen cooperation with key partners to address these issues. Information was provided on measures to restore the Aral Sea ecosystem through the implementation of the Green Belt of the Aral Sea region project. The country attaches great importance to environmental education of the younger generation, actively implementing the National Program for Human Rights Education and the Concept for the Development of Environmental Education, and conducting information and educational programs among children and young people. At the side event, participants noted the efforts of New Uzbekistan, in particular, the successful holding of the IV Samarkand Forum on Human Rights and the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration as a document of the UN General Assembly, as well as the country's participation in the implementation of the Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action. It was emphasized that Uzbekistan's environmental agenda is integrated into regional and global initiatives, which contributes to the intensification of cooperation with international partners. Uzbekistan consistently strives to strengthen dialogue and exchange of experience in the field of environmental protection, climate change and sustainable nature management.

Press Service of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan

“The editors of the newspapers “Yangi Oʻzbekiston” and “Pravda Vostoka”